Seal plate for membrane separation device

Abstract

A membrane separation unit can include a cartridge, at least one membrane disposed within the cartridge, at least one seal plate, and a sealing ring seated in an outer groove of the seal plate. The at least one seal plate can seal one end of the cartridge. The seal plate can have at least one venting hole that forms a passage between the interior of the cartridge and the outer groove. The sealing ring can have a cross-sectional shape that forms a circular venting path between the sealing ring and the seal plate. The sealing ring can include one or more grooves to allow fluid to vent into an annular space between a device housing and the membrane separation unit. The sealing ring can include an outer surface having, in cross-section, two flattened surfaces that form an angle of between 90° and 175° there between.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A membrane separation unit comprising:
 (a) a cartridge having an interior, an exterior, and a pair of ends; 
 (b) at least one membrane disposed within the cartridge; 
 (c) at least one seal plate for sealing one end of the cartridge, the at least one seal plate comprising an outer groove and at least one venting hole that forms a passage between the interior of the cartridge and the outer groove; and 
 (d) a sealing ring seated in the outer groove, the sealing ring having a cross-sectional shape that forms a circular venting path between the sealing ring and the at least one seal plate, wherein a cross-section of the sealing ring comprises: 
 a rounded bottom portion; 
 a flat front face; 
 a flat rear face; and 
 a top surface having a first flat surface and a second flat surface, the first flat surface connected to the flat front face and the second flat surface connected to the flat rear face, the first flat surface and second flat surface meeting to form a peak between the flat front face and the flat rear face, the first and second flat surfaces forming an angle of between 90° and 175° therebetween. 
 
     
     
       2. The membrane separation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the outer groove includes a second groove therein that forms at least a portion of the circular venting path. 
     
     
       3. The membrane separation unit of  claim 1 , wherein an inside surface of the sealing ring includes a groove that forms a least a portion of the circular venting path. 
     
     
       4. The membrane separation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane disposed within the cartridge is in a spiral configuration. 
     
     
       5. A membrane separation device, comprising:
 (a) a device housing having an inside surface; and 
 (b) a plurality of membrane separation units disposed in series in the device housing, wherein each of the membrane separation units has the structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of membrane separation units are seated within the device housing such that the sealing ring contacts an inside surface of the device housing to form a seal between the membrane separation units and the device housing. 
 
     
     
       6. The membrane separation device of  claim 5 , wherein the device housing is cylindrical. 
     
     
       7. A membrane separation unit comprising:
 (a) a cartridge having an interior, an exterior, and a pair of ends; 
 (b) at least one membrane disposed within the cartridge; 
 (c) at least one seal plate for sealing one end of the cartridge, the at least one seal plate comprising an outer groove; and 
 (d) a sealing ring seated in the outer groove, the sealing ring having a cross-sectional shape comprising: 
 a rounded bottom portion; 
 a flat front face; 
 a flat rear face; and 
 a top surface having a first flat surface and a second flat surface, the first flat surface connected to the flat front face and the second flat surface connected to the flat rear face, the first flat surface and second flat surface meeting to form a peak between the flat front face and the flat rear face, the first and second flat surfaces forming an angle of between 90° and 175° therebetween along an outer perimeter of the sealing ring. 
 
     
     
       8. The membrane separation unit of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one seal plate comprises at least one venting hole providing a passage between the interior of the cartridge and the outer groove. 
     
     
       9. A sealing ring for a membrane separation unit comprising a cross-sectional shape having:
 a rounded bottom portion; 
 a flat front face; 
 a flat rear face; and 
 a top surface having a first flat surface and a second flat surface, the first flat surface connected to the flat front face and the second flat surface connected to the flat rear face, the first flat surface and second flat surface meeting to form a peak between the front face and the rear face, the first and second flat surfaces forming an angle of between 90° and 175° therebetween at the peak. 
 
     
     
       10. A seal plate for a membrane separation unit comprising:
 (a) a first part defining at least two concentric passages therethrough, a first passage of the at least two concentric passages being defined by a central ring and a second passage of the at least two concentric passages being defined between the central ring and an outer ring, the central ring and the outer ring being connected by one or more spokes, the outer ring having an outer groove adapted to hold a sealing ring; and 
 (b) a second part comprising a disk defining a plurality of holes therein and a central passageway, the second part being adapted to be secured to the first part such that the central passageway is aligned with the first passage of the first part and the plurality of holes are aligned with the second passage; and 
 (c) a sealing ring seated in the outer groove, the sealing ring having a cross-sectional shape that forms a circular venting path between the sealing ring and the seal plate, wherein a cross-section of the sealing ring comprises: 
 a rounded bottom portion; 
 a flat front face; 
 a flat rear face; and 
 a top surface having a first flat surface and a second flat surface, the first flat surface connected to the flat front face and the second flat surface connected to the flat rear face, the first flat surface and second flat surface meeting to form a peak between the flat front face and the flat rear face, the first and second flat surfaces forming an angle of between 90° and 175° therebetween, 
 wherein the outer ring of the first part includes an inner annular pulling lip adapted to be grabbed by a person's hand as a gripping point for pulling the membrane separation unit out of a device housing; and 
 wherein the outer ring comprises at least one venting hole formed between an inner surface of the outer ring and the outer groove. 
 
     
     
       11. The seal plate of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more spokes comprise a hollow interior. 
     
     
       12. The seal plate of  claim 10 , wherein the second part includes one or more projections adapted to form a snap fit connection with a portion of the central ring of the first part. 
     
     
       13. A membrane separation unit comprising:
 (a) a cartridge having an interior, an exterior, and a pair of ends; 
 (b) at least one membrane disposed within the cartridge; and 
 (c) the seal plate according to  claim 10 . 
 
     
     
       14. A seal plate system comprising a plurality of seal plates as defined by  claim 10 , wherein the system includes one first part and a plurality of different second parts each having a different arrangement of holes. 
     
     
       15. The seal plate system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of different second parts has a unique color. 
     
     
       16. A membrane separation unit comprising:
 (a) a cartridge having an interior, an exterior, and a pair of ends; 
 (b) at least one membrane disposed within the cartridge; 
 (c) a seal plate comprising at least an outer ring defining an outer groove adapted to hold a sealing ring, the outer ring comprising an inner annular lip as a gripping point for pulling the membrane separation unit out of a device housing; and 
 (d) a sealing ring seated in the outer groove of the seal plate, the sealing ring having a cross-sectional shape having: 
 a rounded bottom portion; 
 a flat front face; 
 a flat rear face; and 
 a top surface having a first flat surface and a second flat surface, the first flat surface connected to the front face and the second flat surface connected to the rear face, the first flat surface and second flat surface meeting to form a peak between the front face and the rear face, the first and second flat surfaces forming an angle of between 90° and 175° therebetween.